Even as the export season for Matsutake mushroom or Sangay Shamu has just begun, farmers of Genekha Geog in Thimphu say that export this year has gone down. It is the most expensive mushroom found in Bhutan. The farmers are now targeting the local market.
About 100 farmers from Genekha Geog in Thimphu displayed over 200 Kilogrammes of Matsutake mushroom at the Centenary Farmers Market yesterday. A kilogramme of Matsutake was sold for Nu. 300.
Every year thousands of Kilogrammes of Matsutake are exported. However, this year exports look bleak according to the Geney farmers. The farmers said the number of exporters have gone down this year.
“This year an exporter took only twice. The exporter also said that they can take only 150 Kgs this time. So we brought the remaining to sell it in the local market,” said Dawa, Chairman of Geney Mushroom Management Group.
The mushroom which grows in the wild at an altitude of over 2,500 Metres above the sea level is one of the main sources of income for the people of Genekha.
“There is not much hard work required. People collect the mushroom during the season and it is an important source of livelihood for the farmers,” said Karma Gyeltshen, Gup, Genekha Geog.
So far the Geney Mushroom Management Group has exported about 2,000 Kilogrammes of mushroom this season.
